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New policy provides joint base with common motorcycle safety rules

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Alexis McGee
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst leadership approved a new motorcycle safety policy Feb. 21 in time for the spring and summer motorcycle season.

The JB MDL military service partners coordinated on the policy to create common rules and eliminate inconsistencies with current policies.

Motorcycle rider verification card requirements are the newest addition to the policy that aims to promote safety among motorcycle riders.

The verification card validates that motorcycle operators have met their training, licensing, registration and insurance requirements. This policy was implemented for ease of gate entry and is unique to JB MDL. Motorcyclists are still required to carry all their proper documentation, but will not be required to show all their documentation at the gate if they have a verification card, said Jennifer Kenney, 87th Air Base Wing safety specialist.

All motorcycle riders stationed to or affiliated with the joint base are required to obtain a motorcycle rider verification card from the 87th ABW Office within 30 days of inprocessing. Motorcycle riders need to bring supporting documentation (registration; insurance; a motorcycle license, endorsement or permit; and a valid motorcycle safety foundation card) to the safety office to obtain the verification card.

Fluorescent personal protective equipment requirements were also added to the policy as an additional safety precaution.

"We really want to protect motorcycle riders from other drivers," said Kenney. "We updated the PPE requirements making fluorescent PPE mandatory to eliminate the previous requirement which stated PPE must be 'highly visible.' This left visibility requirements too open to interpretation. We want to ensure motorcycle riders are visible."

PPE is one of the most important tools in maintaining safety while riding motorcycles and is mandatory for military personnel both on and off base. The PPE must be certified to meet or exceed government standards.

"If you stop to think about it, you have no protection on a bike," said Nancy Vandegrift, 87th ABW safety specialist. "Riders need to have some kind of protection, which is what the PPE provides."

Service members must abide by the more stringent PPE requirements, be it their service's requirements, or the policy's requirements. At a minimum, service members must:
1. wear properly-fitted helmets.
2. wear eye protection.
3. wear foot protection that includes sturdy over-the-ankle footwear that affords protection for the feet and ankles.
4. wear protective clothing. This includes long sleeved shirts or jackets, long pants and full-fingered gloves made from abrasion-resistant material. Motorcycle riders must also wear high-visibility fluorescent material on the top portion of their body. The safety office strongly encourages motorcycle riders to wear abrasion-resistant motorcycle jackets and pants.

All military personnel who operate a motorcycle at any time on or off base and all operators of government-owned motorcycles are required to complete a motorcycle safety training course. Civilians stationed at or affiliated with JB MDL must also complete training in accordance with their service's requirements.

JB MDL offers motorcycle safety courses for varying skill levels and motorcycle types.
Motorcycle riders need training-request documentation signed by their unit commands. The training request must be submitted to the safety office to schedule a training class.

Both service members and civilians must complete all training requirements every three years.

"The Air Force has the requirement that motorcycle safety be completed every three to five years," said Kenney. "Most of the other services required people to retrain every three years, so to make it consistent; JB MDL now requires training every three years."

JB MDL offers three motorcycle safety courses, each with varying completion requirements. All three courses are designed to increase motorcycle rider skills and maximize safety, according to the JB MDL motorcycle policy. The three courses include:
1. Basic Riders Course
a. Must be completed before operating a motorcycle on JB MDL.
2. BRC2 (Experienced Riders Course)
a. Available for all riders and must be completed in accordance with the individual's service requirements.
3. Military Sport Bike course
a. Motorcycle riders must take the first available class upon permanent change of station or sport bike purchase and the training must be completed in accordance with the individual's service requirements.

Motorcycle safety is not a new emphasis here. In fact, the Green Knights Military Motorcycle Club, which promotes motorcycle mentorship and safety, began here at JB MDL in 2000.

"Our major objective is to provide mentorship," said Master Sgt. Don Romaca, Green Knights president and 605th Aircraft Maintenance Flight KC-10 Extender production superintendent. "We're not the safety police but we do educate our riders with an emphasis on safety."

Membership in = motorcycle clubs, like the Green Knights, is highly encouraged for motorcycle riders of all skill levels, according to the new policy.

"Too many people think accidents won't happen to them," said Vandegrift. "But it's just too dangerous to risk it so we're promoting the training to encourage people to ride safely."

Contact the wing safety offices at McGuire, 754-7233; Dix, 562-3082; Lakehurst, (732) 323-2525 for more information on safety procedures.

Contact greenknightsch1@hotmail.com for more information on the Green Knights.
Visit https://militarysafepmv.com/ to register for the motorcycle training courses.